ADVENTURES

What ADVENTURES does

Adventures in Missions (operating as Adventures) is a U.S.-based Christian nonprofit founded in 1989 by Seth Barnes and headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia, with a paid staff of 101–250. The organization's core function is to organize and facilitate short-term and long-term Christian mission trips for individuals, church youth groups, families, and young adults, operating across 32+ destinations in the United States (Appalachia, major cities, Native American reservations), Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Eastern Europe, and Southeastern Africa (notably Eswatini). Its product portfolio includes the World Race family of long-term programs (Expedition 11 months / 6 countries, Gap Year 9 months / 4 countries, Semesters 1–4 months / 1–2 countries) for ages 17–30, the Ambassador teen program for ages 11+, Beauty for Ashes women's trips, Disaster Relief deployments, Long-Term Missions of one year or more, and Custom Trips. Complementary non-trip programs include the $45/month Child and Family Sponsorship subscription, the Discipleship & Leadership Training Academy (DLTA), and Parent Ministry support services.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally light: there is no proprietary platform, no AI/ML component, and no native mobile app. Operations are supported by third-party SaaS — ServiceReef for participant management, PushPay for donor payments, and a WordPress/WooCommerce website and merchandise store — layered on top of high-touch human field operations in which each trip is assigned a dedicated mission leader.

Revenue is generated through three mechanisms: per-participant trip fees of $445–$625 for short-term domestic trips (with $500 group deposits and staged payment schedules), much larger fee-per-participant long-term World Race programs, and a recurring $45/month child-sponsorship subscription stream. Donations, merchandise sales through store.adventures.org, and disaster-relief giving provide supplementary revenue. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via adventures.org, supplemented by church partnerships (which function as referral feeders rather than paying customers) and an organic World Race alumni referral network. Founded leadership remains in place, with Seth Barnes serving as Founder, CEO, and Executive Director.

Name

ADVENTURES

Legal name

Adventures in Missions

Website

https://adventures.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Adventures in Missions is a U.S.-based Christian nonprofit founded in 1989 that organizes short-term and long-term mission trips, child sponsorship ($45/month), and leadership training (DLTA) for individuals, church youth groups, families, and young adults across 32+ domestic and international destinations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Short-term Christian mission trip services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Tour Operators (561520), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Faith-Based Group Travel (Church/Mosque/Temple) Organizers (THAKAHAH), Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB), Endurance Stage & Destination Challenges (Multi-day Tours, Charity Challenges) (MPAKAIAG)

Keywords

• Short-term mission trips
• Christian youth missions
• Child sponsorship programs
• World Race expedition
• Disaster relief missions

Headquarters

HQ city

Gainesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Mission Trip Fees: Revenue is generated through per-person trip fees ranging from $445-$625 depending on trip duration and destination. Additional revenue comes from group deposits ($500 per trip), optional hotel accommodations at increased prices, and sponsorship programs.
2. Donations and Sponsorship: Individual donors can make contributions to support the organization's mission work, including child sponsorship at $45/month which provides food, water, discipleship, and family strengthening programs.
3. World Race Merchandise: Sales of World Race branded merchandise through the online store at store.adventures.org.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Adventures in Missions organizes and facilitates Christian short-term and long-term mission trips for individuals, youth groups, families, sports teams, teen individuals, and women across 32+ domestic and international destinations. Revenue is generated primarily through per-person trip fees, $500 group deposits, an installment payment schedule, and recurring $45/month child sponsorship. The portfolio spans short-term trips (5-7 day Adult, Youth Group, Family, Sports, Ambassador, Beauty for Ashes), the World Race young-adult programs (Expedition 11 months/6 countries, Gap Year 9 months/4 countries, Semesters 1-4 months), Disaster Relief deployments, Long-Term Missions (1yr+), Custom Trips, the Discipleship & Leadership Training Academy (DLTA), and a child/family Sponsorship Program.

Product overview

Adventures in Missions operates as a Christian mission organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of mission trip programs and ministry services. The core offerings include the World Race family of programs (World Race Expedition, Gap Year, and Semesters) providing structured missionary experiences ranging from 1-11 months for young adults ages 17-30. The organization also offers diverse short-term mission programs including Adult Trips, Youth Group Mission Trips, Family Mission Trips, Sports Trips, Ambassador Teen Mission Trips, and Beauty for Ashes women's trips. Additional services include Disaster Relief deployments, Long-Term Missions (1yr+), Custom Trips for personalized experiences, a Sponsorship Program for child and family support, the Discipleship & Leadership Training Academy (DLTA), and Parent Ministry for families of missionaries. The organization partners with 32+ destinations spanning international locations (Eswatini, Alaska, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Africa) and domestic U.S. sites (Native American reservations, Appalachia, major cities). The programs are designed to mobilize the church to engage with Jesus and join His work at home and abroad, with all short-term trips plugging into long-term programs for sustained community impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• World Race: Young adult mission trip programs including Expedition (11 months, 6 countries, ages 21-30), Gap Year (9 months, 4 countries, ages 17-20), and Semesters (1-4 months, 1-2 countries, ages 17-30)
• Beauty for Ashes
• Discipleship & Leadership Training Academy (DLTA)
• Ambassador

Products and services

• World Race Expedition An 11-month mission trip program for young adults ages 21-30 that travels to 6 countries, designed to mobilize participants to engage with Jesus and join His work globally.
• World Race Gap Year A 9-month mission trip program for young adults ages 17-20 that travels to 4 countries, providing an immersive year-long missionary experience.
• World Race Semesters Short-term mission programs lasting 1-4 months for ages 18-30, traveling to 1-2 countries, offering flexible missionary engagement.
• Adult Mission Trips Short-term mission trips for individuals or groups of adults ages 11+, offering 5- or 7-day programs with a community service focus.
• Youth Group Mission Trips Group mission trips designed for church youth groups of 15+ participants, focused on community engagement.
• Family Mission Trips Mission trip programs designed for families to serve together, combining ministry with family bonding experiences.
• Sports Trips Mission trips that incorporate sports ministry, designed for groups of 15+ participants to engage communities through athletic outreach.
• Ambassador Teen Mission Trips Individual mission trips for teenagers ages 11-17, lasting 2-4 weeks, designed for personal spiritual growth and outreach.
• Beauty for Ashes Women's Trips Women's mission trips focused on inviting women into freedom and healing as designed by God, with emphasis on discipleship.
• Disaster Relief Emergency response mission trips mobilizing volunteers to help communities recover from natural disasters through long-term restoration efforts.
• Long-Term Missions Extended mission commitments of one year or longer for individuals seeking deeper immersion in missionary work overseas.
• Custom Trips Build-your-own mission trip option allowing groups to customize destination, duration, and focus areas for their mission experience.
• Sponsorship Program Child and family sponsorship program providing $45/month to meet tangible needs including nutritious food and clean water while supporting discipleship and community transformation.
• Discipleship & Leadership Training Academy (DLTA) A training academy dedicated to the holistic development of missionaries, providing structured discipleship and leadership training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trips plugin to long-term programs that create lasting community impact
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Local Churches (Various Domestic Locations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdventures partners with local churches at mission destinations to provide housing, meal preparation facilities, and ministry coordination. Churches serve as base operations for domestic mission trips including New York City, New Orleans, and Appalachian locations.
• Local Ministry Partners (International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with indigenous ministry organizations in international destinations enable culturally relevant mission engagement, community access, and sustained ministry programs.
• Local Organizations in NYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeams partner with missions reaching the lost in NYC neighborhoods through worship services, prayer, outreach activities, and service at soup kitchens and clothing distributions.
• Local Organizations in New OrleanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local organizations facilitating youth activities, kids camps, homeless ministry, food banks, and business-as-mission enterprises in the New Orleans area.
• Native American Ministry Partners (Navajo, Zuni, Apache, Pueblo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnerships with Native American communities in New Mexico, serving Navajo, Zuni, Apache, and Pueblo populations through summer camps, VBS, sports ministry, and community support programs.
• Recovery Program MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with recovery ministries serving those recovering from alcohol/substance abuse and prostitution, providing employment through thrift stores, car washes, and coffee shops as mission fields.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Operation Mobilization: Operation Mobilization is a global evangelical mission organization offering short-term mission trips, discipleship programs, and long-term missionary placements directly comparable to Adventures' World Race Expedition and Gap Year offerings.
• Frontiers: Frontiers is a faith-based international mission-sending organization with short-term vision trips and long-term missionary deployment programs comparable to Adventures' Adult Trips and Long-Term Missions offerings.
• Youth With A Mission (YWAM): YWAM is the largest global faith-based mission organization offering short-term mission trips, Discipleship Training Schools, and long-term outreach programs. Highly comparable to Adventures in Missions' World Race, Adult Trips, and DLTA offerings in target customer (Christians 17-30), program structure, and global footprint.
• Christ for the Nations Institute: Christ for the Nations is a faith-based Bible college and mission-sending organization that runs short-term mission trips, leadership training, and discipleship programs directly comparable to Adventures' Adult Trips, Youth Group trips, and Discipleship & Leadership Training Academy (DLTA).
• Mercy Ships: Mercy Ships is a faith-based nonprofit operating volunteer mission experiences (multi-month service deployments) with a comparable donor-supported, short-term mission participant model and similar evangelical Christian audience.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity is a faith-based nonprofit offering volunteer mission-style service trips (Global Village builds) that compete for the same church-group discretionary mission budget and share Adventures' faith-rooted positioning and group booking model.
• Catholic Relief Services: Catholic Relief Services is a large faith-based humanitarian organization operating international relief, development, and mission volunteer programs. Overlaps with Adventures' international relief footprint and short-term mission participant model, though denominational focus differs.
• Compassion International: Compassion International is a leading Christian child sponsorship nonprofit with a recurring monthly donor model directly comparable to Adventures' sponsorship stream. Operates complementary mission-trip and church-partnership channels and serves a similar evangelical donor base.
• World Vision: World Vision is one of the largest Christian humanitarian organizations and operates the dominant child sponsorship program directly comparable to Adventures' $45/month Sponsorship Program. Also runs volunteer mission trips and disaster response, overlapping with Adventures Relief.
• Samaritan's Purse: Samaritan's Purse is a major evangelical relief organization operating disaster response (similar to Adventures Relief), Operation Christmas Child, and volunteer mission trips. Comparable evangelical donor base and disaster-relief positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aimissions
• Facebookfacebook.com/Adventures.In.Missions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adventures-in-missions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ADVENTURES